Paper #3

Employee empowerment and Work engagement: The Contingent Role of Trust in Management

Umair Ahmed

Abstract: This study addressed the effect of employee empowerment dimensions (meaning, competence, self-determination, and impact) on work engagement of the telecommunication sector employees in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Additionally, this research was aimed to assess the moderation of trust in management on the relationship of employee empowerment dimensions with work engagement. Structural equation modelling results from the sample of 349 final respondents using Smart PLS3 outlined a significant positive effect of meaning, competence, self-determination, and trust in management on work engagement. In comparison, the dimension of impact failed to pose any significant impact on work engagement. Besides, the current study also assessed the moderation of trust in management on the relationship between employee empowerment dimensions and work engagement. Trust in management strengthened the relationship of self-determination, impact, and work engagement, while trust in management did not strengthen the relationship between meaning, competence, and work engagement. The current study forwards notable implications for theory and practice, followed by the scope for future research.

Keywords: Bahrain; Employee Empowerment; Trust in Management; Work Engagement.